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Sporting Kansas City stayed as hot as the Midwest weather on Wednesday night.

Roger Espinoza and Teal Bunbury scored first-half goals and Kansas City held on for a 2-0 Major League Soccer victory over struggling Real Salt Lake at toasty Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.

The win extended K.C.'s unbeaten streak to a franchise-record 14 straight games.

The loss was RSL's second in a row — its first two-game losing streak since early last season.

Because of a red card on Espinoza, Real Salt Lake played with a one-man advantage and dominated play over the final 37 minutes, including extra time.

But RSL was unable to overcome a lifeless first half, when it struggled against confident, aggressive Kansas City.

Grim-faced coach Jason Kreis said Real Salt Lake played "better" in the second half, but added, "It's disappointing when you play with a one-man advantage as long as we did and don't score a goal."

After giving up a pair of goals in the opening 10 minutes of Saturday's 2-0 loss to Columbus, Real Salt Lake nearly fell behind in the first minute again.

On Sporting Kansas City's first attack, Omar Bravo got behind the defense but pushed a header just outside the left post.

Seven minutes later, Kansas City's offensive pressure nearly paid off again.

Espinoza was able to redirect a seemingly harmless shot with another header, but Real Salt Lake keeper Nick Rimando made a diving stop to keep the game scoreless.

In the 16th minute, Sporting Kansas City put itself in prime position to score again.

After RSL was called for a hand ball, K.C. was awarded a free kick from outside the box just to the right of the goal.

Brazilian midfielder Jeferson put the ball in good position in front of the net, but Rimando came off his line perfectly and punched it away.

Real Salt Lake's best chance in the first half came in the 24th minute.

Alvaro Saborio, back after a one-game suspension, got behind the defense. He had a straight-on opportunity against Sporting Kansas City keeper Jimmy Nielsen but pushed a looping shot over the crossbar.

Kansas City's nearly constant pressure on offense finally paid off in the 29th minute.

Espinoza split RSL's Collen Warner and Tony Beltran just outside the box and found himself alone against Rimando.

From an angle on the left side, Espinoza's low blast just inside the near post eluded the RSL keeper.

Espinoza's first goal of the season gave Sporting Kansas City a deserved 1-0 lead.

In the 34th minute, Real Salt Lake fell further behind when Bunbury knocked a rebound into the back of the net. The play started with a long throw-in from the corner.

Kei Kamara beat RSL's flat-footed defense to the ball and directed a wicked header toward the goal.

Somehow, Rimando made a sprawling stop, but the ball stayed in front of the net.

Bunbury took advantage and easily made it 2-0 with his fifth goal of the season but only his second since March.

At halftime, Kansas City's 13-3 lead in shots on goal told the story of possession and aggressiveness.

In the 57th minute, however, Espinoza gave Real Salt Lake life with a dangerously high tackle from behind that flattened Kyle Beckerman.

Espinoza was given a red card and RSL, playing with a one-man advantage, finally went on the attack.

Unfortunately for Real Salt Lake, it could not convert a handful of excellent opportunities over the next 15 minutes.

Shots by Luis Gil and Beckerman were smothered by Nielsen, and Saborio had another scoring chance denied by defender Seth Sinovic as Sporting Kansas City held on for the victory.

Real Salt Lake tries to snap its two-game losing streak Saturday night against New York at Rio Tinto Stadium. —

Sporting KC 2, RSL 0

R Roger Espinoza and Teal Bunbury score first-half goals to lead Sporting Kansas City to a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.

• Kansas City stretches its franchise-record unbeaten streak to 14 straight games, while RSL loses its second in a row.

• Real Salt Lake plays the final 37 minutes with a one-man advantage after a red card of Espinoza, but it still can't score.